The father of abductee Megumi Yokota repeated Thursday that the government should impose immediate economic sanctions on North Korea while maintaining an open channel for bilateral dialogue.
The government said Wednesday that DNA tests showed the remains North Korea presented to Japanese officials during bilateral talks in Pyongyang last month are not those of Shigeru Yokota's daughter, who was kidnapped in 1977 at age 13.
The findings have fueled skepticism over North Korea's sincerity in dealing with the abduction issue and have prompted calls for the government to slap sanctions on the reclusive state.